Stepping off the stool at Madam Malkin's felt like descending from a different realm entirely. The concept of "The Boy Who Lived," linked irrevocably to his name and scar, slotted into place with devastating precision, confirmed by the System's analysis of combined data streams. It explained the Goblin's reaction, the vague familiarity in some adult eyes, the drawing on the poster. It explained why his obscure cupboard address was known to a school of witchcraft. It explained why his existence felt... annotated by significance. He was that Harry Potter. The one who lived.
He joined Mistress Vance, politely accepting the standard black robe from Madam Malkin. He managed a nod and a quiet "Thank you," his outward composure maintained by [Gamer's Mind Lv. 6]. Inside, his System was furiously integrating the monumental update.
🔔 [System Core Data Updated: User Identity Context Profile Activated!]
[Primary Tag: Harry James Potter -> Sub-Tag: [User Identity: The Boy Who Lived].]
[Associated Historical Event Detected and Logged - Provisional Tag: [The Downfall of You-Know-Who / First Wizarding War Culmination Incident - Further Data Required for Confirmation].]
[Analysis Protocol: User Status now highly linked to Historical Context within [Magical World Category]. User recognition probability significantly elevated.]
Mistress Vance led him out of the robes shop and back into the bustling, sunlit Alley. "Just two more fittings then, for size, closer to September," she noted, consulting her list. "Next, books. Flourish and Blotts is usually packed this time of year, but they have all the first-year texts."
She steered him down the lively street. Harry walked beside her, his head no longer just processing the wonder of Diagon Alley's magical businesses and citizens. Now, his [Situational Awareness Lv. 7] was automatically profiling any attention directed towards him. He noticed the subtle glances from passersby, the way a conversation sometimes quieted as he passed, heads turning to follow him with a flicker of recognition, eyes perhaps catching the edge of his lightning scar where his unruly hair sometimes failed to conceal it entirely.
His [CHA 20] wasn't registering social hostility; most reactions were stunned silence, whispers, or outright gaping, punctuated by excited tugs on robes and hushed voices – "Did you see...? Is it him? The Boy Who Lived... " He heard the words, again and again, filtering through the general din thanks to his heightened Awareness and hearing.
It was overwhelming, this sudden, unexpected cascade of recognition and renown. But [Gamer's Mind] processed it coolly. Status effect: User is famous. Condition: Public recognition = potential security risk (loss of Stealth effectiveness), unpredictable social interactions. Advantage: Status may unlock access/information. The constant whisper campaign wasn't threatening physically, but it was eroding his signature [Stealth Lv. 8] in this public setting, at least his ability to pass unnoticed socially.
His internal focus shifted. [Primary Quest Step 4: Investigate "Magic" as a System Category] received a major re-prioritization. New Sub-Objective automatically added by the System: [Sub-Objective: Acquire External Historical Data on User Identity / Associated Historical Event]. It felt like an active quest step requiring immediate attention.
They reached a large bookshop. Flourish and Blotts. Packed with customers and teetering shelves of books. His target. He remembered the dark-covered history book outside the shop near Madam Malkin's.
"This is it," Mistress Vance said. "The queue is dreadful, but we need to get your required reading. I'll wait by the front here; just take your list to the back for the first-year collection." She handed him the parchment list of textbooks.
Harry clutched the list and his expandable pouch (now containing 100 Galleons) like twin anchors. He plunged into the thick crowd of witches, wizards, and students. His [Stealth Lv. 8] and [Agile Evasion Lv. 7], aided by [DEX 22], were vital just for navigating the jam-packed aisles without getting constantly bumped or noticed (successfully avoiding collisions awarded tiny, incremental EXP: [+1-3 EXP] per clean pass through dense crowd, [+Skill EXP] for Stealth/Evasion).
He needed his school books, yes. But more importantly, he needed that history book. His mind scanned his visual memory of the street, cross-referencing locations, building a mental map (WIS 21). Bookshop near Madam Malkin's. Different shop, or did Flourish and Blotts just have overflow display outside? His [Observe Lv. 6] swept the shelves. Spell books, Transfiguration guides, Potions manuals – the standard list items. But also, sections labeled 'History', 'Current Events', 'Biographies'.
He moved towards the History section, a pull of determination stronger than the crowds. He spotted books about Goblin Rebellions, famous witches, obscure historical periods. Then, nestled amongst others, books with starker covers. One titled YOU-KNOW-WHO AND I: COMING OF AGE IN TURBULENT TIMES. Another, with a terrifying picture on the front: THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE (a flicker of immense danger detected by his System upon Observation - Level and Type: Extreme, Parameter: Alchemical/Existential Threat - Logging as Critical Object Data), but not the historical book he sought. And then... he saw it. The plain, dark cover.
📚 [ITEM: Book - Literary Media (Magical World Provenance).]
Title: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE DARK ARTS. Author: G. Vole.
Content Analysis (Superficial Scan using Observe Lv 6+INT/WIS 22): Contains detailed history of significant magical conflicts and practitioners of Malevolent magic. Confirmed Chapters on: Geller Grindelwald, [Redacted] (placeholder/codenamed individual, likely YOU-KNOW-WHO), Associated conflicts.
Potential Relevance to Primary Quest [User Fame Context]: CRITICAL SOURCE for acquiring External Historical Data on associated event and entities.
Acquisition Status: Obtainable via Commerce [Requires Magical Currency]. Relevance: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Immediate Acquisition.
The title. G. Vole. And System confirmation it contained information about the associated event and the entity the boy in the robes called You-Know-Who. This wasn't just relevant. It was essential. The immediate next step dictated by his System.
He calculated (INT 22). School books first - requirement. Then this history book. Can he carry them? Can he afford both? The price tags, in Magical Currency, registered via [Observe] ([Observe]: Price Tag - X Galleons, Y Sickles, Z Knuts). The standard textbooks added up to maybe 4 Galleons, 5 Sickles, 10 Knuts. The Dark Arts history? A steep 7 Galleons, 15 Sickles. Could his pouch hold that? His inventory status confirmed: 100 Galleons currently available. Yes, he could definitely afford it. His immense fortune simplified Step 2 (Acquire Supplies / Funding) significantly. The getting was now purely a logistical challenge (carrying, choosing, avoiding trouble).
He navigated towards the back where the first-year texts were piled, his Stealth and Evasion aiding him through the densest knots of people, his Awareness noting anyone who seemed to be watching him rather than shopping (a constant, if now familiar, issue). He located the first-year pile, loaded his expandable pouch via Mental Intent with one of each required book ([Inventory: Books - The Standard Book of Spells (Gr1), etc. Status: Acquired. Weight: Nullified by Pouch enchantment - Significant PQ Step 2 progress!]). The list was completed effortlessly, silently, by thought alone. He didn't even need to queue or pay the cashiers for these; his vault connection and enchanted pouch made basic supply acquisition nearly instantaneous once the item was Observed as 'obtainable'. This was game-breaking efficiency for PQ Step 2.
Next, the history book. He returned to the History section. He quickly located the required volume. He performed the same mental action: Focus on Book -> Observe Price -> Check Inventory Funds -> Intent to Acquire -> Target: Add [ITEM: Book - The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts] to [Inventory].
🔔 [User Action: Attempting to Acquire [ITEM: Book - The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts]. Checking Prerequisites... Resource: [Magical Currency] - Funds available (100 Galleons). Transfer Protocol Initiated via [Inventory: Expandable Gringotts Pouch (Tier 1)]. Cost: 7 Galleons, 15 Sickles.]
(Pouch made another faint clinking sound)
[Transaction Completed: Item Acquired! 7 Galleons, 15 Sickles deducted from Inventory. Item: Book - The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts added to Inventory. ]
[Primary Quest Step 2: Acquire Supplies - Task: Acquire Specific Informational Item - STATUS: ACHIEVED!]
[Primary Quest Step 4: Investigate Magic - Sub-Objective: Acquire External Historical Data on User Identity / Associated Historical Event - STATUS: MAJOR PROGRESS!]
[+180 EXP!]
Current EXP: 500 + 180 = 680/2800 (Significant jump!)
EXP! 180! Just for getting one critical item via System! This grind was on a whole different scale. Acquiring supplies was effortless with money, but acquiring key information for his quest... that was where the real EXP lay. He now had his history book. Hidden instantly in his magically-expanding pouch. Along with his school texts.
He rejoined Mistress Vance by the entrance, bag tucked securely away. "All sorted, Mr. Potter?" she asked.
"Yes, thank you, Mistress Vance. Everything on the list. And another... history book."
"Ah, a studious one! Good, good. History's very important. Well," she consulted her list again, "Next is a wand. And there's really only one place for that. Ollivander's. Come along."
Harry nodded, his mind buzzing with acquired knowledge (Leaky Cauldron as Access Point, Magical Currency structure, The Boy Who Lived identity confirmed, You-Know-Who association via History book purchase). The System was already preparing new calculations: wand acquisition as a unique PQ step, potential compatibility analysis, identifying 'Ollivander' as a key entity within the 'Magical Commerce/Item Source' category. The history book in his inventory felt heavy with the weight of years of secrets about to be revealed. The adventure, fueled by data and wealth, was escalating. He was ready for whatever Ollivander's or that history book might reveal next.